amaotonovel Chapter 1684 Han Muran Enters the Palace
Chapter 1684 Han Muran Enters the Palace
Wan Lianxing rolled his eyes at Suiying. He knew Suiying was trying to flatter him, but he didn't want to stop him. Once Suiying wanted to speak, he couldn't stop him. He heard Suiying say calmly, "Those low-level secret techniques can only deal with licentious monarchs. Even if a fairy from the Jade Pool came, a person as pure and detached as our emperor wouldn't be tempted by worldly desires."
Wan Lianxing wasn't without worldly desires; it's just that he lacked the strength to fulfill them, and no one could truly understand his suffering.
Wan Lianxing's expression turned extremely serious in an instant, revealing his attitude: "As long as the Empress does not participate in politics or abuse her power, no one can shake her in the slightest. As for those who covet the Empress's position, they are not allowed to enter the palace."
Cheng Feng said, "Uncle, save those words for your sister-in-law."
"Hmph! I won't mess with my sister-in-law. If I can't afford to offend her, I can at least avoid her!"
Madam Wan is not someone he can easily avoid; she's currently chatting with Zhong Siyu's mother. When the conversation turns to sad topics, Madam Wan even sheds some tears alongside Madam Zhong.
Han Muran sat there listlessly, her mind elsewhere, preoccupied with the Emperor. She couldn't understand why her great-aunt was going on and on; she had dressed up meticulously for her audience with the Emperor. She refused to believe that with her youthful beauty and striking looks, she couldn't win over the Emperor.
The arrogant Han Muran simply doesn't understand the current emperor. If he were a lustful man, how could the harem be so desolate?
Although Zhong Siyu's eyes were red, she was in high spirits. She had cried tears of joy countless times upon seeing her relatives.
Shang Xi was also happy for her, "Empress, you are indeed the Emperor's most beloved person. The Emperor did not hesitate to send his trusted attendants and attendants to rescue your family. The attendants were an important pawn that the Emperor placed in the Dalang court. For the sake of the Empress, the Emperor was willing to discard this pawn."
The empress dowager was forbidden from interfering in politics, but Zhong Siyu had heard about many things happening in the court. She knew a thing or two about where the entourage had been for the past year. The entourage's impersonation of Wang Quanzhi, a favorite minister of Dalang, played a crucial role in accelerating the annihilation of Dalang. For the sake of the Zhong family, Wan Lianxing had the entourage falsely convey imperial edicts, thus exposing his identity. Zhong Siyu was deeply moved.
But Zhong Siyu still felt a pang of sadness in her heart. If only Han Muran hadn't appeared here!
As expected, the Emperor's words were law. Just as he had spoken to her last night, Han Muran appeared in the palace today. What was bound to happen has finally happened. It seems she will have to relinquish her position as Empress.
Seeing her family safe and sound, Zhong Siyu finally let go of the knot in her heart that had been there for so many years. Even if Wan Lianxing publicly deposed her from her position as empress today, it didn't matter. She just thought of it as Wan Lianxing slapping her and then giving her a sweet treat.
Seeing the generous gift Wan Lianxing gave her today, Zhong Siyu was willing to give up the position of empress, because she knew how to be pragmatic.
Looking at Han Muran, who was sitting there absentmindedly, Zhong Siyu's heart was still churning violently. This was a feeling she was experiencing for the first time.
Seeing Zhong Siyu sometimes crying and sometimes laughing, Shang Xi naturally didn't know her troubles and took it all as Zhong Siyu crying tears of joy.
Looking at Zhong Siyu's family, Shang Xi couldn't help but admire Wan Lianxing's extraordinary abilities and skills. So, in front of Zhong Siyu, she sincerely said many good things about Wan Lianxing.
Zhong Siyu laughed at everything Shang Xi said, sometimes even shedding a few tears as she laughed. But Zhu'er, the little maidservant beside Zhong Siyu, had a long face, as if someone had stolen her money.
Zhu'er was much more eloquent than Zhong Siyu. In front of everyone, she spoke casually about how good Wan Lianxing was to her mistress, but Han Muran saw her words as boasting.
“My lady is naturally the most beloved person in His Majesty’s heart. Last night, my lady went out to drink and admire the lanterns with the Crown Prince’s wife and the others. She returned so late, but His Majesty still waited for her in Wankang Palace to settle her in. He can’t sleep without my lady.”
Zhu'er might as well say that Wan Lianxing can't live without Zhong Siyu, but Madam Wan picked up on Zhu'er's words, saying, "Siyu is a good wife. I took a liking to Siyu at first sight in the crowd back then, and she and Lianxing really did end up together."
Although Madam Wan favored her own family, it was common knowledge that she recognized and was satisfied with Zhong Siyu, and Zhong Siyu also treated her with great respect.
Zhong Siyu's parents nodded awkwardly, unable to utter a single word of objection. In the past, they had severed ties with Zhong Siyu over this marriage, even taking the matter to the Emperor. It seemed that they, not Zhong Siyu, were the ones who lacked foresight. If Zhong Siyu hadn't followed Wan Lianxing to marry far away back then, Wan Lianxing wouldn't have stepped in to save her today.
Just then, the old butler came to invite everyone to take their seats.
The Zhong family members had already bathed and changed into the most fashionable clothes at the time. They didn't look as haggard and disheveled as when they first entered the palace, but they still seemed a bit reserved and uneasy.
In particular, Mr. Zhong and Mrs. Zhong looked embarrassed and avoided eye contact when facing Wan Lianxing.
During the two years that Zhong Siyu followed Wan Lianxing away from home, Master Zhong submitted numerous memorials to the emperor, and even joined other ministers in submitting a joint memorial to the emperor, all with the aim of impeaching Wan Lianxing and bringing him down.
At that time, Master Zhong was a Left Assistant Secretary, and for many years his official rank and position had not been promoted. Although his career had not progressed, he had submitted so many memorials impeaching Wan Lianxing that the Emperor hated him. He had once hated Wan Lianxing to the core, but now, thanks to Wan Lianxing's rescue, his family was able to escape the suffering of exile and eke out a living on Wan Lianxing's territory. Although their daughter was now the Empress, they still felt ashamed when they recalled the past.
The old steward warmly invited everyone to take their seats. Shang Xi saw that Wan Lianxing had invited many ministers to the welcoming banquet, which truly showed the Zhong family enough respect and face.
Shang Xi looked again and saw that the people Cheng Youning had mentioned had all been invited by Wan Lianxing, and the song and dance had indeed been arranged. A circle of fairies-like girls danced gracefully in the center of the ground to the sound of wind instruments. Zhong Siyu, who had tidied herself up, was sitting on a high seat with Wan Lianxing. Wan Lianxing was handsome and charming, with a smile in his eyes. He looked ahead and focused on appreciating the song and dance in front of him. Looking at his slightly perked-up ears, it seemed that he was listening carefully to the serious-looking Zhong Siyu whispering to him.
The ministers' eyes were fixed on the group of dancing girls, but the Zhong family members would occasionally look up, where the Zhong family's daughter and the begging monarch sat. Wan Lianxing, who had caused the Zhong family so much heartache in the past, was now high above them.